Samuel eabnshaw howell



s. B. HOWELL. WINDOW BLIND APPARATUS.

(No Model.)

No. 367,143. Patented July 26, 1887.

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OSWMBEQW J i N. PETERS. Plwminhugmpher, Wnshinglon, 0:04

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL EARNSHAW HOWELL, F SHEFFIELD, COUNTY OF YORK,

' GLAND.

WlNDOW-BLIND APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,143, dated July26,1887.

Application filed January 27, 1887. Serial No. 225,730. (No model.)Patented in England April 16, 1886, No. 5,300.

ented in ,Great Britain by Letters Patent No.

5,300, dated April 16, 1886 and I do hereby declare that-the followingis a ful clear, and

exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for Winding upwindow-blinds and sustaining said blinds in any desired position, theobject being to dispense with roller-springs and other mechanicaldetails consequent upon the use of such springs. I attain this object bymeans of the combination of mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figuresl and 2 representback andside views of theapparatus, part of the casing being removed inthe side view, Fig. 2.Fig. Sshows an apparatus with an alteration in the gearing suitable forlong blinds.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views. a

The outer casing, A, is suitably shaped t contain and support theworking mechanism, andis provided with lugs B, or similar means by whichit may be secured to the windowframe, having also a vertical slot, 0,for the actuating-knob to slide in, and through which it is connected tothe rack E. The rack is in gear with'the teeth of the pinion F, which,with a wheel, G, is fixed upon a short axle supported by the sides ofthe casing. The wheel G is in gear with a second pinion, H, fixed uponthe axle of the blind-roller I, and thus it will be seen that when therack is moved either up or down by means. of the outside knob, D, thetrain of wheels and pinions is caused to revolve and an acceleratedrotary To prevent the blind running down by the action of its own weightand to retain it in any desired position, Iuse a spring-such as L-acting againsta loose washer, M, and thus the plate on each side of theslot G is gripped between the washer and the collar ofthe knob D,sufficient friction being caused for the desired purpose.

For longer blinds'-such as those for housewindows--I alter the gearingto the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, which is simply theintroduction ofan intermediate wheel and pinion upon an axle marked J and K, and thelocation of the rack E upon the opposite side of the pinion F. By thisarrangement, as will be .readily understood, the revolutions of theroller are increased in such proportion that i f, for example, thewheels and pinions are respectively as three to onc,and theblind-roller. is one inch and a quarter in diameter, a blind of six feetlength would be wound up by four inches of rack movement.

I am aware of the devices set forth in Letters Patent of the'UnitedStates, N 0. 198,682, dated December 25, 1877, No.'272,898, datedFebruary 27, 1883, and No. 296,4 9l, dated April 8, 1884, and I dohereby disclaim the same as forming no part ofmy invention. My apparatusis distinguished from all said devices by its sliding actuating-knob Dand endwise-moving rack E, and by the coact ion of its frictional deviceL M with the knob D and slotted housing A G, as above set forth. I

I am also aware of the device for operating the slats of Venetian blindsset forth in French Patent No. 13,082, in which an endwise-Inoving'rackis employed. Said device lacks the slotted housing, themotion-multiplying gearing, and the frictional holding device, which areessential .parts of my apparatus.

Having thus clearly described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a slotted housing,

of a protruding actuating-knob carrying 9 within the housing a shortrack whichis movable endwise thereby, motion multiplying gearing whichis driven by said rack when the latter is so moved, anda roller providedwith a pinion which is turned by said gearing, sub

stantially as herein specified, for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a slotted housing, a

protruding actuating-knob carrying within 5 the housing a short rackwhich is movable end- Wise and having its shank provided with africtional washer and a spring behind the same, a train of gearing, onepinion of which is in mesh with said rack, and a roller pro- 10 Videdwith a pinion in mesh with the last wheel of said gearing substantiallyas herein specified, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAM Ullh EARNSHAW ll OWELL.

\Vitnesses:

ROBT. F. DRURY, BERNARD E. DRURY.

